Chinese authorities arrest 2,000 for making counterfeit drugs

Chinese authorities have arrested nearly 2,000 people in relation to the manufacture and distribution of counterfeit drugs.

Last week Digital Journal reported that European customs had detailed millions of units of fake drugs, the majority of which were imported from China. This week comes the news that Chinese authorities have detained almost 2,000 people in connection with fake medicines. This follows the arrest of 200 people in May 2012 for similar activities.

According to the New York Times, the Chinese Ministry of Public Security has undertaken a major nationwide operation to deal with counterfeit drugs. As well as making the arrests, the government seized about $180 million worth of fake medicines.

According to the China Post, some 18,000 police officers were involved in the operation. The Ministry issued a statement, quoted by the Wall Street Journal, in relation to the arrests “The criminals' methods were despicable and have caused people to boil with rage… The crime of making fake drugs is still far from eradicated, and criminals are coming up with new schemes, becoming craftier and better able to deceive.”

The fake drugs were marketed for the treatment of a range of conditions, the Daily Express notes, including hypertension, diabetes, skin diseases, and cancer.

The production of fake drugs continues to be major problem in China, despite government attempts to increase regulation.